osborn



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

' I. P. OSBORN.

FENCE. No. 500,032. Patented June 20, 1893.

2 sheets-sheet 2.

lPatented June 20, 1893.

FENCE.

I. P. OSBOR'N.

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rUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ISAAC P. OSBORN, OF FLORIDA, INDIANA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 500,032, dated June 20, 1893.

Application filed November 30. 1892. Serial No. 453,584. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ISAAC P. OsBoRN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Florida, in the county of Madison and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fences; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,'such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertaius to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a front View of the fence. Fig. 2 is a rear View showing one of the pickets raised. Fig. 3 is a front view. Fig. 4 is a rear view showing how it may be swung from the center when used as a gate; and Fig. 5 is a perspective view in detail ot' one of the rails. Fig. G is a plan view of one of the rails.

This invention has relation to certain new and useful improvements in fences, and it consists in the novel'construction and coinbination of parts, all as hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

, In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated one section of my improved fence, each section being substantially the same.

In the said drawings, the letters A, A, designate the end posts of the section, and B the center post.

G designates the longitudinal rails, which are three in number, and spaced about equally distant from each other, the lower rail being a short distance above the ground, and the upper rail near the upper ends of the posts. Said rails and posts may be made of wood or metal, although metal is preferred on account of durability, the increased expense being somewhat offset by casting them hollow, instead of being solid, as when wood is employed. Said rails are each in the form of a vsegment of an elongated cylinder, and are eled on their faces, as shown atf, in order to present little resistance to the wind.

Vhen the fence is designed to be used as an inclosure for horses or cattle, the wires E, E', are usually employed, the wire E passing along the top of the felice through the upper ends of the posts, and the wire E passing midway between the middle and upper rails, and also preferably passing through the posts. By making the two wires in one piece, as shown in the drawings, with the connecting end portions g, said wires are also enabled to serve as a truss or brace for the section. Said wires are preferably barbed.

F, F, duc., are, the vertical rods or wires which form what may be termed the pickets of the fence, and consist each of a piece of heavy wire, turned at its upper end into a it is only necessary to raise one or more of `A these rods, as indicated in the drawings, supporting it in its raised position by engaging its hook 7i, with the wire E', or with the upper rail. In order to give stability and strength to the section, an occasional pair of the rods is extended up and through the upper rail, the upper ends being united by the bow I-I. In the drawings, I have shown one pair of rods on each side of the center post, as so eX- tended. The rails may be made to swing on the center post, so that by removing the securing bolts or pins, any section of the fence may be easily converted into a gate for temporary or permanent use. In order to accomplish this, the bolts or pins are removed from the section, which is partially removed from the posts and moved endwise suiiiciently to allow one end to clear the end post. The section may then be swung around at right angles with thecenter post; or the rails ot any IOO section may be hinged at one end to the end post, thereby converting the section into a gate, which may be opened by removing the bolts or pins at the center and other end;

The advantages of a fence constructed as above described, are as follows: First, it is neat in appearance, strong, eiective and durable; second, any section may be taken out for repairs, or be converted into a gate, with very little trouble; third, it affords Very little resistance to the wind, and is so constructed as to render it impossible' for snow to bank or drift against it to any extent;

fourth, the rods or pickets may be quickly raised to form an opening or exit; iifth, the principal weight is upon the vmiddle rail, which supports the rods, instead of upon the lower rail, the extended rods imparting great stability tothe section. Having described this invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s 4 l. A fence section, comprising the end and middle posts, having beveled faces, the semicylindrical rails placed with their rounded Scopes faces uppermost, the series of short vertically movable rods or4 pickets passing through the middle and lower rails and having hooked upper ends, and the extended. pairs of said rods passing through theupper rail, and united above saidwrail, said 'rails being removablysecured to said posts, and adapted to swing on the center post, substantially as specified.

2. A fence section, comprising the end posts,

the middle post, upper, lower and middle rails removablysecured to said posts,the series of vertically movable rods or pickets having the hooks attheirupper ends, pairs of said rods or pickets being extended through the upper rail and united, andthe wires strung above the upper ends of said series of rods or pickets, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof l aix my sgnatu re in presence of two witnesses.

ISAAC P. OSBORN. 

